Here is top-fantasy-football's list of Top Wide Receivers for 2009. We will update this list as player news and events take place that effect player rankings.
1. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
Bye Week: 4
Fitz has a great pro bowl caliber QB tossing him the pig skin and Matt isn't a bad backup so the QB situation is on the up and up, major plus. Fitzgerald produced his third 1,400-yard, double digit TD season in his five-year career in 2008. Larry almost pulled off another 100 reception season too totaling 96 in 08. With the RB situation in check Larry is poised for yet another outstanding year.
2. Randy Moss, New England Patriots
Bye Week: 8
Moss would be my number 1 WR Ranker if it wasn't for Tom Brady coming off that injury and a full season away from tossing the rock (think back to Peyton Manning last year). Wes Welker is the PPR machine but Moss is the red zone and deep threat monster. Brady's back under center so Moss should post 1,000 plus yard and double digit TD for sure. Will he catch 23 touchdown passes again? I think not. But Moss is a beast and ready to take your fantasy football team into the playoffs.
3. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans
Bye Week: 10
This guy Johnson has glue on this hands. Even with double-coverage and the DB's knowing he's getting the rock but Johnson just makes catch after catch. When drafting you must take into account the inconsistency of the Houston QB slot but then again when you're dealing with a WR stud like Andre Johnson you can just about forgive anything.
4. Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions
Bye Week: 7
I wonder what its like to be Calvin "Megatron" Johnson. If the Lions didn't stink and the fans didn't bring brown bags to the games I'd have him list as #1. Hard to imagine after going winless in 2008 Johnson still amassed 78 receptions, 1,331 receiving yards and tied for the league lead with 12 touchdowns. Matthew Stafford or Daunte Culpepper will control the rock much better in 2009 so expect even more from the mighty megatron regardless of QB they will be passing often playing from behind.
5. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts
Bye Week: 6
Wayne is the undisputed number 1 in Indianapolis now. Marvin Harrison's departure cleans up the depth charts and over thrown deep balls that should have gone to Wayne. Wayne has been a consistent performer since 2004 and even was serviceable while Peyton Manning was hurting. With all the changes in Indy and with the drafting of a new top RB we are going to see some changes in the offense no doubt but Peyton Manning is Peyton Manning and they're not going to make him run run pass unless the lead is secure. Will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
6. Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals
Bye Week: 4
11 Touch downs and 1,000 + yards last year and the man missed four games!! Boldin could end up not staying with Arizona but I doubt it. Boldin is a real deal football player that doesn't worry about going over the middle and will haul down passes in a crowd around the goal line. As a matter of fact Boldin is who Warner looks to in the red zone.
7. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers
Bye Week: 4
Smith pulled off his fourth straight 1,000-yard season in 2008 despite missing two games due to that suspension for fighting. After such a successful year running the ball teams will be really focused on the run game. Look for Smith to put up some strong fantasy football points, perhaps his best year will be 2009.
8. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints
Bye Week: 5
If Colston can stay healthy he would be a top five wideout in New Orleans top flight offense. But that's a big "if" since the guy has played hurt every year since his rookie year and it seems to get worse as time progresses. Colston is a great pick up to ride for about 8 or 10 games then sell high in a trade before he gets hurt..
9. Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons
Bye Week: 4
White emerged as a go-to fantasy option 2007 as he hauled in 83 balls for 1,202 yards and six touchdowns then in 2009 pulled down 88 balls for 1202 yards and 7 TD. Matt Ryan in his second year will help a lot and I'm very excited about the addition of Tony Gonzalez to the receiving corps as an option to draw attention over the middle. White in man-to-man coverage should increase Whites Fantasy Point at least 10 percent.
10. Terrell Owens, Buffalo Bills
Bye Week: 9
All you Owens haters it's time to sit down and shut up. Owens has eight double digit Touchdowns seasons next to Jerry Rice with nine. His first year with a team is usually his most productive. Owens has a strong No. 2 target in Lee Evans opposite him, a top-flight running back in Marshawn Lynch and an QB with a lot to prove. If Edwards didn't have such douche bag stats I'd rate Owens higher. I'm also concerned with the cold weather games in Buffalo increasing Owens dropped passes. But if you can get him as the 10th WR off the board the upside is too big to passup.
11. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers
Bye Week: 5
Jennings made his mark last year with 80 receptions and 1,292 receiving yards hauling in nine touchdown passes. Another year of Rodger's should improve the production however the Packers have vowed to feature a stronger running game. Ryan Grant could return to form and vulter some TD's from Jennings. I'm nervous about the TD total so he didn't make the top 10.
12. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs
Bye Week: 8
With Tony Gonzalez shipped to Atlanta Dwayne Bowe is instantly the top receiving option in Kansas City. I watch Bowe at LSU and there is no doubt he can handle the load. Cassel is doing well in camp and is a huge upgrade over Bowes previous QB's. I fully expect Bowe to surpass his two-year averages of 1,008 receiving yards and six touchdowns by a very large margin.
13. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seattle Seahawks
Bye Week: 7
Goodbye Cincinnati hello explosive Seattle offense. Houshmandzadeh is a reception machine who snags anything put on his gloves. In points per reception league Houshmandzadeh is gold. And if Matt Hasselbeck and the surrounding O-Line can stick around for 16 games Houshmandzadeh could approaches a triple-digit reception and double digit touchdowns but that's a big question mark which lowers his value in my rankings.
14. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos
Bye Week: 7
So did Jay Cutler make Brandon Marshall or did Marshall make Cutler? Marshall will not repeat previous years stats without Cutler it's just not happening. To many question marks in Denver so temper your expectations.
15. Roy E. Williams, Dallas Cowboys
Bye Week: 6
I'm ranking Roy at 15 because obviously Dallas has faith in him. So I have to assume hw will do great things. But realistically we have nothing to go off here stat wise.
16. Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals
Bye Week: 8
I believe that the hardening of the offensive line and a healthy Palmer allows Ochocinco to get back on top and pick up his old form of 85 or more catchs and 1,000+ yard seasons.
17. Wes Welker, New England Patriots
Bye Week: 8
In a PPR league you bump Welker a several notches higher on this list. Welker is still going to see 8-10 looks per game and average his 6-7 receptions per game. He's golden.
18. Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bye Week: 8
Bryant resurrected his career brilliantly in Tampa Bay last year. Shocked the hell out of the fantasy football world. Byron Leftwich looked great in his relief play in Pittsburg and fully expect him to win the QB competition in Tampa. Look for Bryant to perform well and perhaps even work his way to number 10 or 11 of this list as the season progresses.
19. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers
Bye Week: 8
Holmes was spectacular in the playoffs and Super Bowl. This has got to earn him top WR play in 2009. Watch and see.
20. Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers
Bye Week: 5
Last year LT, Antonio Gates and Chris Chambers were injured and Vincent Jackson stepped his game up 10 fold. He established career highs in by scoring seven times catching over 1,000 yards. Look for Jackson to continue his success now that Norv Turner knows what his game face looks like.
